Mvula on DPP payroll to fight Atupele

Ruling DPP has recruited ‘mafia’ Humphrey Mvula to work on a project of propaganda and mudslinging against lawmaker Atupele Muluzi’s presidential ambitions.

According to a senior DPP official, Mvula has been tasked to work with Sky broadsheet newspaper of DPP’s Noel Masangwi to “create damaging stories” against Atupele.

Plan

Mvula and broadsheet reporter (name withheld) arranged several interviews with a Machinga chief Nyambi to claim that the district does not want Atupele to stand for presidency.

Mvula: Mafia work on Atupele

“The plan is that after the newspaper writes the story, state broadcaster MBC radio and TV will all follow up and do interviews with people they have already arranged and paid,” said a source.

They have also organized protests against Atupele in Lilongwe and other parts of the country.

According to the sources, Mvula is also alleged to have planned to “create” a fake birth certificate alleging that Atupele will be underage to contest for presidency.

Age

Speaking in Zodiak radio’s popular program, Tiuzeni Zoona, recently, Mvula stressed that Atupele does not qualify to contest because he is below 35.

“The party’s constitution is clear that anyone wanting to be president or presidential candidate must be 35 or above on the day of the convention. Atupele does not qualify and will not qualify. We are not targeting him but he is too young and after all the constitution was written long time ago before he surfaced,” Mvula said.

But Atupele said during the same programme: “I am now 33, I know and next year I will be 34 so that convention all I need is to be nominated to contest as presidential candidate in 2013 convention when I will be 35 because our convention states that the presidential candidate is elected a year before general elections.”

The young Muluzi said he will turn 35 in 2013 – the age when one can contest the presidency.

“In 2014 I will be 36, so in as far as age is concerned I qualify. By the way, if they insist am underage why then bother about me? All I know is that am ready to offer myself to the people on a platform of change,” he told the radio.

An investigation by Nyasa Times shows that Atupele’s passport indicates he was born on 6 August 1978. He first applied for a passport when he was going for studies in UK before his father became Head of State. The lawmaker was born at Kamuzu Central Hospital while Muluzi was minister without portfolio in Kamuzu Banda regime.

Solicitor

Atupele has also be targeted with stories claiming he did not pass his exams to become a solicitor in Britain.

The deputy leader of UDF in parliament studied law at the University of Leciester where he obtained a law degree and then enrolled at College of Law in London.

“My major was in corporate finance. I have LLB degree in economics and law,” he told a local radio.

Atupele: Born on 6 August 1978

Atupele said he was a member of law society in England and Wales but when he returned to Malawi he could not practise as he did not join the state chambers or enrolled with the University of Malawi as the requirement then.

Others

The ruling party mouthpiece has also been tasked to write a story that Atupele’s black Land Cruiser vehicle he uses does not belong to him but UDF party.

They also plot to write stories denigrating his wife, former MP Angella Zachepa. They have two children together.

Some of these issues as earlier reported by Nyasa Times have indeed been published in the broadsheet on December 23, 2011.

Mvula refutal

But Mvula has denied the ‘Mafia’ tag alluded in the Nyasa Times story saying he has not been one amd described the lable as “unfortunate development.”

He denied the allegations and also dismissed that he has been hired by DPP.

“Let it be said for posterity that I have never been hired by anyone let alone Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to de-campaign Honourable Atupele Muluzi,” he explained.

“I would like to categorically refute any linkage with the DPP as a party or any individual being a member of that party. One wonders how, the DPP would be involved issues de-campaigning any purported candidate before a due selection process has been concluded,” he said.

Mvula said he will support any presidential candidate who will be duly elected during the party’s extraordinary National Conference slated for 2013 as provided for in the Constitution of the UDF.

“When the party’s presidential candidate is identified by that National Conference, I together with my colleagues shall support that candidate and not de-campaign such a candidate to ensure victory in the 2014 presidential elections,” he said.

He advised those that harbour presidential ambitions that “there are tougher times ahead and that therefore they should brace for a real bumpy road to 2014 because the media in Malawi today has become extremely aggressive.”